SOLD LIQUOR WITHOUT BEING LICENSED

Chronicle (Levin), 3 May 1947, Page 6

SOLD LIQUOR WITHOUT BEING LICENSED

ASHBURTON, May 2.. * "No doubt an anomaly does exist in the licensing law in Ashburton but this does not justify defendant taking steps to remove the anomaly for his own benefit, ' ' said Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today when iinposing fines lotalling £50 on Charles -Edward Challis who pleaded guiltv to five charges of selling liquor without being duly licensed to do so. The police evidence "was that two constables on each of five occasious obtained half a dozen bottles of beer from defendant at 2s ld a bottle. Mr. R. Ivennedy, for defendant, said the offences arose out of the anomalous licensing law existing in Ashburton. It became a no-licence district in 1909 and from then till 1928 there was a regime of sly grogging. In 1928 Ashburton came into the Mid-Canterbury elector- ' ate in which licences existed. In spite of this Ashburton remained virtually a no-licence district and no fresh licences could be granted. The result of this was the establishment of depots on agencies for outside hotels. Time and time again requests . were made to the Government to do sometliing to remove tlid anomalies and the Licensing Com mission made provision for them to be removed. The M agistrate remarked that defendant was in a big way and appaTently had been selling without any restrictions. He really carried - on the ■same way as licensed premises but without their obligations. ■